416 MATERIA MEDICA 



DIAPHORETIC ALTERATIVES. 



No. 1 . Levigated sulphuret of antimony 2 drs. to 1 oz. 



Caraway seeds i oz. 



Mix for one dose. 



No. 2. Tartarized antimony 1 to 2 drs. 



Camphor 1 to 2 drs. 



Liquorice powder 3 drs. 



Syrup enough to form the ball. 



The following will be found an useful alterative in diseases of 

 the skin : — 



Sulphur 4 drs. 



Nitre 3 drs. 



Antimony 2 drs. 



To be given daily with the food. 



Diaphoretic medicines are very uncertain in their effect upon 

 the horse, and unless great care be taken of the animal with 

 respect to grooming, exercise, diet, and clothing, little benefit is 

 to be expected from them. Opium has been prescribed, with 

 camphor, tartarized antimony, ammonia, and other stimulants, 

 for the purpose of relaxing the skin and producing perspiration ; 

 but there is often danger in giving such medicines, especially 

 when there is any degree of fever present : the medicines pre- 

 scribed in the above receipts are innocent if they fail in affect- 

 ing the skin, as in such cases they are generally determined 

 to the kidneys, and cause an increased discharge of urine, espe- 

 cially if the horse be not warmly clothed. (See Diaphoretics, 

 Febrifuges, Sudorifics, &c.) Many other medicines have 

 been prescribed as alteratives, by veterinary writers, among 

 which are v5ithiop's mineral, cinnabar, guaiacum, kermes mineral, 

 cream of tartar, the neutral salts, &c. To these may be added 

 one which has often been found more efficacious than all the 

 rest, that is, soiling in the stable on vetches, or tares, lucern, 

 &c., or a run at grass. 



ALTH^A. See Marsh Mallows. 



ALUjNI. — Alumen. Alumino-sulphate of potassa, potassm 

 ahimino sulphas. A saline body, composed of sulphuric acid and 

 alumine, or pure clay, and potash. It is used internally as an 

 astringent in diarrhoea, diabetes, red-icater, &c. in doses from two 

 drachms to half an ounce in the horse, and one ounce in cattle, 

 or more, and is generally joined with hitters and aromatic stimu- 

 lants, such as gentian, cassia, aniseed, caraway seed, &c. It has 

 been employed in doses of one and two ounces to dry the milk after 

 calving in cows. For external purposes alum is very useful : it 



